Faculty as a Change Agent: Lessons Learned from a Change Management Game Virtual Workshop: A Qualitative Study

Abstract Background The dramatic change in the learning environment, in the universities, had forced academic medical faculty to play several roles and rapidly adapt and lead this change. Thus, this study aimed to identify the critical success factors that may help academic medical faculty to be a change agent as well as explore effective ways to manage such a change. Methods This work utilized a deductive qualitative grounded theory approach aiming to identify the factors and effective ways to manage change. A convenient non-probability sample of thirty faculty members participated in a change management game virtual workshop using the jigsaw technique and change management game. This game has 34 cards with Change Management questions. The research team revised and modified the change management game questions. After revision and modification, the game consisted of four groups of questions, each group included 6–9 questions with a total of 28 questions Results The findings were organized under four themes: Individual, Environmental, System/organizational, and Network/interactions-related factors that help the academic medical faculty to be change agents. The participants agreed that a change agent should have transformational leadership attributes, be a role model and a good communicator having strong social connections. Additionally, participants described the change-resistant environment as a major obstacle to change. The presence of skeptics and the inability to find the required supportive team were indicated as important network-related barriers while the significant role play in this team is the innovators. Finally, the destination to make people agree to change is developing and communicating a shared vision and change culture. Conclusions The current study added to the body of knowledge the academic medical faculty view of a successful change agent. This study was able to evidence that despite the challenges the faculty are always facing, every faculty can be a change agent in his position and different situations. Therefore, Training, supporting, developing, and rewarding the academic faculty to ensure that the next generation of change agents will be equipped to be proactive on the frontlines of any change will be outlined.